Aerosol spray dispenser

ABSTRACT

An automatic aerosol spray dispenser of a type adapted to contain a replaceable aerosol can and operate the valve mechanism thereof at predetermined intervals for adjustable shorter periods. Timing of the first mentioned intervals is by means of a solid state timing device having a discharging condensor. The discharge of the condensor is employed to commence operation of a motor driving a cam which drives a valve-operating mechanism, and opens a switch in series with the motor at the completion of a spray cycle, this switch being closed with initiation of motor operation. Since the motor operates only during the spray cycle, and continuous current consumption is limited to the charging of the condensor, the device is suitable for dry cell operation.

United States Patent 1191 11 3,726,437 Siegel 1 Apr. 16, 1973 AEROSOLSPRAY DISPENSER [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Norman H. Siegel, 1351 NE.191st An automatic aerosol spray dispenser of a type St.,North MiamiBeach, Fla. 33162 adapted to contain a replaceable aerosol can and 22 F1d: an. 21 1971 operate the -valve mechanism thereof at predeter- 1 1 6 Jmined intervals for adjustable shorter periods. Timing PP 108,332 of thefirst mentioned intervals is by means of a solid state timing devicehaving a discharging condenser. 52 US. 01...; ..222/70 The discharge ofthe condenser is p y to 51 Int. Cl. ..B67d 5/08 meme Operation of amotor driving a cam which [58] Field of Search ..222/70, 76, 182, drivesa valve-operating mechanism, and opens 8 222/503; 239/70 switch inseries with the motor at the completion of a spray cycle, this switchbeing closed with initiation of [56] References Cited motor operation.Since the motor operates only during the spray cycle, and continuouscurrent consumption UNITED STATES PATENTS a is limited to the chargingof the condensor, the device 3,589,563 6/1971 Carragav 222/70 issuitable for dry cell operation. 3,967,643 1/1961 Edelstein ..239/7O X 2Clams, 6 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves AssistantExaminer-Larry Martin AttorneyCharles E. Ternko f6 7 5.24 36 J J7 0 I if0- 7 7 46 40 I ii i 6/ 35?- l 24 as l i l /7 l I /7 AEROSOL SPRAYDISPENSER This invention relates generally to the field of automaticallyoperating aerosol spray dispensers, of a type adapted to contain areplaceable aerosol can, and

operates the valve mechanism thereof at predetermined intervals for aspray cycle of a shorter interval. Devices of this general type are wellknown in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructionaldetails, permitting the device to be manufactured at low cost, and .tobe powered by dry cells.

The advantages of automatic cyclic operation of aerosol spray dispensersare well understood by those skilled in the art, and need not beelaborated herein. Broadly speaking, such dispensers fall into twocategories, one of which controls the amount of spray dispensed at eachcycle by metering means, and the other of which obtains a meteringaction by control of the interval over which the valve on the aerosolcan is depressed. Depending upon required design perameters, timingmeans have included synchronous clock motors, battery powered balancewheel clocks, mechanical clock work, and the like. Valve actuating meanscontrolled by such clock work have included electrically operatedsolenoids, electric motors, springwork and the like, either directlyoperating the valve, or through levers, Geneva movements and the like.Each construction has offered various combinations of advantages anddisadvantages, the morev expensive mechanisms tending to be morereliable, at the expense of greater complexity, greater noise inoperation, and greater overall bulk and weight.

With increasing use of devices of this type, there has been a persistentdemand for construction which may be installed in areas where housecurrent is not conveniently available, and which will neverthelessrequire servicing at relatively infrequent intervals. Such demands arenot accommodated by clock work mechanisms which require winding, or asource of alternating current to provide synchronous motor operation.Battery powered balance wheel clocks do not offer sufficient power toopen and close the dispensing valve of the can at the high speedrequired to prevent sputtering during the operating cycle. When suchconstruction is coupled with a metering type dispenser, the total costof the same tends to be quite high. 7

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide an improved automatic aerosol dispenser of the above describedclass, in which the above mentioned disadvantages have beensubstantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of any improvedautomatic aerosol dispenser capable of operation solely on small drycells, with servicing intervals normally no greater than that requiredfor the replacement of an exhausted aerosol can.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedbattery powered automatic aerosol spray device in which the timingelement is in the form of a transistorized solid state circuit employinga charging capacitor, the discharge of which is employed to initiate aspraying cycle, and in which the continuous current drain is of a verylow order.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedautomatic aerosol spray dispenser, in which without the need of meteringstructure, the timed cycle is accurately controlled by a battery poweredmotor.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedaerosol spray dispenser, in which both the timing mechanism and thevalve operating mechanism may be operated from the same set of drycells.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedaerosol spray dispenser possessed of the above advantages, in which thecost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequentwide sale, distribution and use.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and bepointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is afront elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, with the cover elementremoved for purposes of clarity, and illustrating the valve actuatingmechanism at the completion of a spraying cycle.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the commencementof a spraying cycle.

FIG. 4 is a similar fragmentary front elevational view showing theclosing of the valve on an aerosol can, just prior to the completion ofa spraying cycle.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the timing element comprising apart of the embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a casing element 11,container valve-actuating means 12, motor driven camming means 13, andsolid state timing means 14.

The casing element 11 is preferably formed from sheet metal, although,where desired, injection molded parts from synthetic resinous materialare also suitable. The casing elements includes a main body member 17,and acover member 18, pivotally associated therewith by pins 19. Alocking clip 20 maintains the cover member 18 in closed position.

The main body member 17 includes a planar base 22 suitable for mountingupon a vertically disposed wall (not shown), a pair of side walls 23,24, a lower wall 25 and an upper wall 26. The clip means 27 is mountedon the inner surface of the base 22 for supporting dry cells 28.

The cover member 18 includes a forward wall 29 having a circular orifice30 positioned to overlie the spray nozzle of an aerosol container. Sidewalls 31 and 32 overlie the side walls 23-24 of the main body member 17when the upper edge 33 of the wall 29 engages the clip 20.

The valve actuating means 12 includes a main plate or base 35, the upperedge 36 of which abuts the inner surface 37 of the upper wall 26.Locking tabs 38 extend through corresponding slots in the wall 26, and adownwardly extending tab 40 penetrates a corresponding opening in aninsulated plate 42 forming part of the timing means 14. An upper slottedopening 43 extends through the plane of the plate 35, and is axiallyaligned with a lower slotted opening 44 which extends to the lower edge45 of the plate. A lever 46 is anchored for pivotal movement at a firstend 47 by a pintle 48, and a second end 49 thereof is modified to form acam follower means 50. A medial point 51 is penetrated by a pintle 52which engages a threaded nut member 53 engaged by a threaded shaft 54.The upper end 55 of the shaft penetrates the upper wall 26 and supportsa manually engagable member 56 threadedly engaged therewith. The lowerend 57 engages a resilient clamp 58 which engages the vented nozzle 59supported by the stem 60 of an aerosol container 61. A spring 62surrounds the shaft 54 between the nut member 53'and the clamp 58, andserves to allow a limited degree of nutation of the clamp with respectto the shaft.

The motor driven camming means 13 includes a small electric motor andreduction gears (not shown) disposed within a housing 64 secured to theplate 35. The output shaft 65 thereof penetrates the plate 35 and mountsa cam member 66 having four radially extending portions 67, 68, 69 and70. Each of the portions 67-70 includes a curved cam facev7l separatedfrom the other faces by recesses 72.

The solid state timing means 14 may be of a' well known transistorizedtype, and as best understood from a consideration of FIG. 6 in thedrawing, includes a terminal 74 interconnected by a conductor 75 toreplaceable dry cells 28. A resistor 76 of approximately 18 meg ohmvalue is connected to the terminal 74, and slowly charges a condensor 77in turn connected to the cathode 78 of a first transistor 79. A secondresistor 80 of approximately 180 ohms resistence connects to the cathode81 of a second transistor 82 to provide bias voltage for the transistor79. When the transistor 79 becomes conductive, the condensor 77 isdischarged to a terminal 84 of a cam operated switch 85 and to aconductor 86 to the motor 83. A return conductor 87 connects the motorto the battery. This discharge will provide a sufficient electricalimpulse to commence operation of the motor, whereby the cam member 66 isdriven a short distance.

OPERATION Operation of a timing cycle will be best understood from aconsideration of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in the drawing. Normally, during theinterval in which the condensor 77 is slowly charging, the device willbe in the position shown in FIG. 2,.in which the blades 88 and 89 of theswitch 85 are maintained in open condition by contact with one of theradially extending portions 67-70 of the cam member 66. With thedischarge of the condensor, the motor commences operation, and a slightmovement of the engaged portion 67-70 disengages the blade 89, so thatthe switch closes under resilient action. Current then flows directlyfrom the battery to the motor, which rotates the cam member 66 resultingin depression of the lever 46 until the cam face 71 has parted contactwith the cam follower member 50. Once the lever 46 is released, thevalve in the aerosol can closes, thus-ending spraying of the contents ofthe can. Immediately thereafter, the cam face again opens the switch 85,thus terminating the flow of current to the motor, and the motor isquickly braked to a stop by the reason, this can be obtained by pressingdownwardly on I contact of an oppositely disposed portion 67-70 with aresilient brake 91 on an upper surface 92 of the upper wall 26.

The condensor 77 again recharges over the predetermined interval, untilit again reaches the predetermined degree of charge, at which time thecycle is repeated. Should non-automatic operation be desired, for'anythe manually engageable member 56, wherein the motion is transmitteddirectly through the engagable 54 to the valve of the aerosol can.Rotation of the manually engagable member 56 will also result intransmission of motion through the nut member 53 to the lever 46, to apoint where the valve is also open, and the contents of the can may thenbe continuously discharged.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In an automatic aerosol spray dispenser for use with a replaceableaerosol can, the improvement comprising: a casing element having meansfor retaining said can in relatively fixed position, valve actuatingmeans including a lever mounted for pivotal movement at one end thereofwith respect to said casing, and having means thereon engaging said can,and cam following means on an oppositely disposed end thereof; motormeans disposed within said casing element having an output shaft, andcamming means on said shaft in the area of said cam follower means toperiodically directly contact the same; solid state timing meansincluding a chargeable condensor, battery means powering said timingmeans and said motor means, and switch means in series with said motormeans and operated by said camming means, whereby: upon the charging ofsaid condensor of said timing means to a predetermined level, and thedischarge thereof to said motor means, said motor means will commenceoperation sufficient to move said camming means to a position whereinsaid switch closes to cause said motor means to be powered directly fromsaid battery means for the remainder of a spraying cycle terminated bysaid camming means again contacting and opening said switch; saidcamming means including a four-lobed cam directly contacting said camfollower meansand said switch means, whereby said cam rotates for eachcycle of operation; said valve actuating means including a nut on saidlever, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and extending toward said can,and clamping means on an end of said shaft engaging a moveablevalve-associated member on said container, whereby rotation of saidshaft in said nut member may adjust the relation between said clampingmeans and said cam follower means on said lever.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said threaded shaftprojects outwardly of said casing element at an opposite end thereof topermit manually imparted axial motion to be transmitted directly to saidclamp.

is a: v s f 4'

1. In an automatic aerosol spray dispenser for use with a replaceableaerosol can, the improVement comprising: a casing element having meansfor retaining said can in relatively fixed position, valve actuatingmeans including a lever mounted for pivotal movement at one end thereofwith respect to said casing, and having means thereon engaging said can,and cam following means on an oppositely disposed end thereof; motormeans disposed within said casing element having an output shaft, andcamming means on said shaft in the area of said cam follower means toperiodically directly contact the same; solid state timing meansincluding a chargeable condensor, battery means powering said timingmeans and said motor means, and switch means in series with said motormeans and operated by said camming means, whereby: upon the charging ofsaid condensor of said timing means to a predetermined level, and thedischarge thereof to said motor means, said motor means will commenceoperation sufficient to move said camming means to a position whereinsaid switch closes to cause said motor means to be powered directly fromsaid battery means for the remainder of a spraying cycle terminated bysaid camming means again contacting and opening said switch; saidcamming means including a four-lobed cam directly contacting said camfollower means and said switch means, whereby said cam rotates 90* foreach cycle of operation; said valve actuating means including a nut onsaid lever, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and extending toward saidcan, and clamping means on an end of said shaft engaging a moveablevalve-associated member on said container, whereby rotation of saidshaft in said nut member may adjust the relation between said clampingmeans and said cam follower means on said lever.
 2. Structure inaccordance with claim 1, in which said threaded shaft projects outwardlyof said casing element at an opposite end thereof to permit manuallyimparted axial motion to be transmitted directly to said clamp.